Tank-filling tube



March 27, 1928.

L. KESSLER TANK FILLING TUBE Filed April '26, 1923 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 27, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,663,947 PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS KESSLER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO ROY W. HILL, TRUSTEE.

TANK-FILLING TUBE. p

Application filed April 26,

My invention belongs to that general class of devices known as tank filling tubes, and relates particularly to a tube of the kind described, which may be used for filling tanks or other receptacles and which will be safe, simple, efficient, durable, compact and satisfactory for use wherever found applicable.

The invention has particularly among its objects the 'production'of a closure for a filling opening that may be used in connection with any suitable form of filler tube or filler opening of a receptacle, for closing the opening Where the tank is filled, whereby excessive pressure in the tank may be; relieved and where air may be admitted to fill the space formerly occupied by the liquid as said liquid is being drawn fromthe tank. By this last-mentioned means,"whereby air is admitted into the tank while the contents therein are being drawn-0H", the creating of a vacuum in the tank and the consequent impairing of discharge therefrom is prevented, as well as collapsing of the tank, and at the same time the escape of gas from the-tank due to'evaporation is prevented. There is absolutely no danger of the contents of the tank exploding, because any pressure arising within the tank is instantly relieved. Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosures herein given. I

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims. t I

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts, j

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through one form of my device; Fig. 2 is a section taken substantially on line 22 of Fig. 1; i

Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially on I v h shaped 1n cross-section, is arranged to conline,33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4, is a top plan view of the inner.

cylinder; I Fig. 5 is a top plan view ofa modifie form of the inner cylinder; I Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken substantially on line 66 of Fig. 5 r

Fig. 7 is a top plan view-of another modified form of innercylinder I Fig. 8 is a sectiontaken substantially on l n .ss f 7.; and

1923. Serial No. 634,756.

'filling opening to permit the'filling therethrough, and at the same time prevent any flame from entering the tank, relieve excessive pressure within the tank, and permit the admittance of air to the tank as the con tents thereof are drawn off.

A pair of coaxial radially spaced cylinders or tubes, 3 and 4, are shown as extending into the tank, said tubes having'openings in their side walls, the outer tube being perforated for substantially its entire length, and the inner tube having continuous openings therethrough from top to .bottom thereof and formedin a manner to be more clearly hereinafter described.

The tubes or cylinders may be formed of any'suitable material, preferably of a material that is, reasonablystrong and will not a plurality of arcuate segments 5, all bent to' thefsame curvature andhavingtheir longitudinal edges overlapping and spaced apart to provide recesses or openings 6 at the corrode. The inner tube 4 is constructed of overlapped port-ions, these openin'gs'extending continuously substantially from top to bottom of the cylinder. The segments may be spaced apart by any suitable means, as for instance, byinserts -7 secured thereto in any suitable manner.

The closed end 8 of the inner cylinder may be supported and rest on the closed end 9 of the outer cylinder in .order to better conduct heat therebetween and also to prevent the danger of having unauthorized persons inserting a stick or the like into the tank through the bottom walls of the tubes.

A closure member .10, substantially L- trolthe open ends of both of said tubes. The peripheral flange 11 of the closure member is internally threaded to cooperate with a flange 12 secured at the filling opening 2 of the tank. The. outer cylinder 3 is carried by the closure member 10 in the manner shown, that is, the cylinder is secured to an annulus 13, which, in turn, is threaded ,to the flange 11 .of the closure memberand held against vertical movement by clamping in place between the upper end of the threads and the upper end of the part 12.

The top or web of the closure member 10 is provided with-a-bore 1 L therethrough and with an annular shoulder 15 concentric with the bore. On the outer surface of the member 10, intermediate the shoulder and the bore, are formed one or more vent openings 16. The inner surface or the member 10 is provided'with a shoulder 17, whereby the inner cylinder 5 may be clamped between the over-hanging shoulder 17 and the outer tube so that one end of the tube engagessaid shoulder and the other end engages the bottom 9 of the outer tube. In this manner any heat in the inner tube is conducted directly in a continuous path to the atmosphere or to the bottom oi ithe outer tube, the latter extending into the cooler liquid in the tank, thus preventing any of the solder, or the like, with which the parts of the device are assembled, from becoming overheated and melting.

A cap 18, shown in the form of a disk member having an annular flange 19 is adapted to be positioned on the web portion of the closure member 10 to control the end openings of both of the tubes and the vent apertures 16. A check valve 20 may be arranged-to control a duct 21 throughthe cap and leading from the interior of the tubes to the atmosphere, whereby air may pass from the atmosphere through the check valve and into the tubes and the tank.

A pair of ears22 are carried by the member 10 so as to pivotally carry one end of a lever 23, there being a pin 24 arranged between the ears 22. Intermediate the ends of the lever a pin 25 is arranged to pivotally connect with the cap 18, and the free end ofthe leveris adapted to be locked to the closure member, as at 26. A spring 27 is arranged to cooperate with the lever to exert a pressure upon it to normally keep thecap seated on the shoulder 15.

In case of any pressure in the tank, caused for any reason -whatever, when the same reaches the point where it overcomes the tension of the spring 27, the disk 18 may lift slightly against said spring pressure so that the pressure Within the tank may be relieved through the ports 16, after which the disk drops back into its closed position, closing the receptacle. As the liquid is drawn oil from the tank, air may enter through the check valve 20 thereby preventing a partial vacuum within the tank. It is impossible for any flame to get through the perforated tubes and ignite the contents of the tank and the deviceis, thererore,.nonexplosive. V

The locking means .26 prevents the removal of the cap member from the device, but there is sufiicient play with the lock and locking part to permit of a slight lifting of the cap to relieve any pressure within the tank. In order to more easily lift the lever 23 for any reason whatsoever, as for instance when filling, an outwardly and downwardly extending finger 29 is formed intermediate 'thepin' 25 and the free end of the lever. The shape of the finger is such that it may be easily grasped and pulled upwardly.

In the form shown in Figs. 5 and6,-the inner cylinder is formed by providing top and bottom plates 31 and 32, respectively, the top plate having a bore 33 therethrough.

Rods 3a are arranged in parallel relation and spaced apart about the periphery of the plates 31 and 32 so as toform a cage, having openings 35 extending longitudinally thereof continuously from end to end.

In the form shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the

inner cylinder is formed of a top and a bottom ring 36 and 37, the plates 38 are arranged in parallel relation and secured at their ends to thetop and bottom rings, as shown. A centralrecess, or chamber 39 is provided by cutting away the top portions of i the plates so that a tunnel, or the like, may be inserted within the chamber39 during filling. In the form shown in Fig. 9, the

inner cylinder is formed ota single piece. i

of material of the shapejshown and having its wall slotted, as at 40, to provide openings therethrough extending continuously from the top't'o the bottom of the cylinder.

Havingthus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial 'modifications may be made in thesame' without departing from the spirit of my invention;

hence I do, not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exactform, construction,

arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned. What I claim as new. and desireto secure by Letters Patent is: i

1. A filling tube of the kind described, comprising apair ofspaced inner and outer cylinders having openings through their side walls, saidLinner cylinder formedof a plurality of arcuate segments overlapping along theirside edges and spaced apart thereat to form continuous openings, and aclosure cap forthe open end of bothxof said cylinders.

2. .A tank closure comprising a member constructedto be secured to a tank and having a centralbore therethro'ugh, said memtending fiangeconstituting a pocket for receiving andengaging the upperend of the inner cylinder to ma ntain t inoperative positio V her having an annular shoi'ilder on its top 3. A filling tube of the kind described ing screw-threads engaging said screwthreads of said cap, a pair of spaced perforate tubes, one of said tubes being arranged within the other and the upper end of said outer tube being secured to said annulus, the inner tube having its lower end resting upon the bottom of the outer tube and having its upper end abutting against said cap, said cap being provided with vent openings aligned with the space between said inner tube and said outer tube, a pivoted closure member for said vent openings and said bore, a spring for holding said closure member in its closed position, and means for locking said closure member against relatively large displacement thereof from its closed position and permitting it to open slightly when it is subjected to a predetermined pressure by the contents of the tank.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

LOUIS KESSLER. 

